Australia completed a crushing 198-run win over Zimbabwe in the opening fixture of the triangular series in Harare.

The tourists did not miss their captain, Michael Clarke, who is out with a hamstring injury, as they accumulated 350 for six – their highest score against Zimbabwe – having been put in.

Unusually for such a big total there was no centurion, with Glenn Maxwell’s 46-ball 93 the largest contribution. Aaron Finch, with 67, and Mitch Marsh, who made 89, also enjoyed themselves as Australia plundered 15 sixes and 27 fours during the innings.

Zimbabwe never looked like getting close and were all out for 152 in 39.3 overs, with Hamilton Masakaza making 70 and providing the only serious resistance.

Australia’s openers, Finch and Brad Haddin, began the day at a relatively gentle pace, with only one boundary in the first five overs, before Finch clubbed Tinashe Panyangara for two sixes in three balls in the seventh over.

The runs began to flow more freely as the bowling changes came into effect and the stand was worth 98 when Haddin, on 46, followed a big six off Elton Chigumbura with an awkward defensive prod that cannoned back into leg stump.

Finch and Marsh then took the score to 137 before taking the batting powerplay in the 29th over. But the five-over period yielded only 25 runs and cost the wicket of Finch, caught at square-leg off John Nyumbu.

Australia’s stand-in captain, George Bailey, came and went for 14 but his departure merely brought the dangerous Maxwell to the crease and he and Marsh added 109 in nine overs at more than 12 an over. Marsh took 20 off the 42nd over and Maxonly one fewer off the 43rd.

Tendai Chatara ended the partnership when Marsh was caught by Sikandar Raza looking for his fifth six and then dismissed Maxwell seven short of 100 after he had just struck back-to-back sixes.

Mitchell Johnson helped Australia reach 350 with 20 quickfire runs, launching Panyangara for a six that shattered the window of a television commentary box.

The chances of a Zimbabwe chase were always slim but, when Mitchell Starc removed Tino Mawoyo sixth ball, the game was surely up.

The No3, Masakadza, added 63 for the second wicket with Raza but, once the opener was out softly to Nathan Lyon, the game was soon up. Brendan Taylor, Chigumbura and Stuart Willams followed for the addition of only five runs and the end came with more than 10 overs to spare, Steven Smith cashing in with three cheap tail-end wickets.

The third team in the series are South Africa and each country plays the other twice.